Applications of MCR-Derived Heterocycles in Drug Discovery

Transition Metal/Lewis Acid Catalyzed Reactions of Zerumbone for Diverse Molecular Motifs

Zerumbone is a naturally occurring humulene type sesquiterpene, isolated from the rhizomes of Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Smith with excellent therapeutic potential and is recognized as a valuable synthon for the construction of diverse array of natural product motifs. In this review, we intended to highlight our achievements in utilizing abundant natural product zerumbone and its derivatives for the development of pharmacologically relevant molecular scaffolds. We provided an account of the transition-metal catalyzed 1,4-conjugate addition reactions of zerumbone and its derivatives along with palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings, transition metal-based Lewis acid promoted interrupted Nazarov cyclisation reaction with substituted indoles and transannular cyclizations, photo-induced transformations of zerumbone and its epoxide.

Fluoral Hydrate: A Perspective Substrate for the Castagnoli-Cushman Reaction

The reactivity of azomethines based on trifluoroacetaldehyde hydrate in the Castagnoli-Cushman reaction (CCR) was researched. The impact of the nature of anhydrides explored on the reaction route was determined. The preparative procedures for the synthesis of N-substituted (3R*,4R*)-1-oxo-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-4-carboxylic and (1R*,2R*)-4-oxo-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzo[d]azepine-1-carboxylic acids in gram scales were elaborated. It was shown that the trifluoromethyl group remarkably decreased the reactivity of azomethines in CCR. The mechanism for the formation of different products depending on the anhydride's nature was proposed.

Asmic Isocyanide [3 + 2] Cascade to Dihydrooxazoles and Dihydroimidazoles

The versatile isocyanide building block Asmic, anisylsulfanylmethylisocyanide, reacts with aldehydes and ketones in a BF₃·OEt₂-mediated condensation to afford thioimidoyl-substituted 2,5-dihydrooxazoles. The condensation is distinguished from related base and transition-metal-catalyzed [3 + 2] processes in proceeding via the condensation of aldehydes and ketones with 2 equiv of an isocyanide followed by a molecular rearrangement that installs four new bonds. BF₃·OEt₂ mediates an analogous condensation of Asmic with imines to generate N-substituted dihydroimidazoles. Mechanistically, BF₃·OEt₂ activates the isocyanide to facilitate deprotonation evolving to a zwitterion that traps π-electrophiles in a formal [3 + 2] process. A second deprotonation-condensation with Asmic initiates a structural rearrangement involving a sulfanyl elimination-addition transposition sequence. The resulting dihydrooxazoles and dihydroimidazoles contain a thioimidate that serves as a diversification point for further elaboration.

A new four-component reaction involving the Michael addition and the Gewald reaction, leading to diverse biologically active 2-aminothiophenes

A Gewald-four component reaction has been successfully developed for the synthesis of a series of compounds containing an indole and a 2-aminothiophene moiety separated by a methylene spacer having anti-proliferative activity.

Isocyanide-based three component reaction for synthesis of highly cyano substituted furan derivatives

A rapid and efficient solvent-free one-pot synthesis of novel alkyl amino aryl furan tricarbonitrile derivatives is described under catalyst-free conditions.

Quick and easy access to N-Mannich bases of 1-isoindolinones by catalytic electroactivation of primary and secondary amines and tandem reaction with 2-formylbenzonitriles

Electrochemically initiated tandem reaction between 2-formylbenzonitriles and amines successfully leads toN-Mannich bases of 1-isoindolinones. Enantiopure isoindolinones have been obtained by resolution with chiral amines.

Three-component reaction of a 2-aminoazine, a 2-oxoaldehyde, and a cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compound for the synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]azine derivatives

A three-component reaction of a 2-aminoazine, a 2-oxoaldehyde, and a cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compound providing access toward a novel class of imidazo[1,2-a]azine derivatives was developed and studied. The scope of the process was thoroughly explored under three different reaction conditions resulting in the generation of a small library of title compounds and highlighting the possibility of case-specific approach.

Nano-MoO3 as a Highly Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for a One-Pot Synthesis of Tetrahydropyrimidine Derivatives in Water

A green and highly efficient one-pot synthesis of 16 1,3,4,5-tetrasubstituted 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidines, four of which are new, using a three-component reaction involving an aniline, formaldehyde and a dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylate in aqueous media at room temperature catalysed by nano-MoO3 has been achieved.

Multicomponent reactions in nucleoside chemistry

This review covers sixty original publications dealing with the application of multicomponent reactions (MCRs) in the synthesis of novel nucleoside analogs. The reported approaches were employed for modifications of the parent nucleoside core or for de novo construction of a nucleoside scaffold from non-nucleoside substrates. The cited references are grouped according to the usually recognized types of the MCRs. Biochemical properties of the novel nucleoside analogs are also presented (if provided by the authors).